Defense Technology Hubs Act of 2025
The Defense Technology Hubs Act of 2025 would require the Department of Defense (DoD) to create a National network of regional Defense Technology Hubs designed to accelerate the development and adoption of defense-related technologies. The program would solicit and designate consortia—comprising universities, defense contractors, small businesses, nonprofits, and state/local governments—as regional hubs. The hubs would partner with anchor federal defense institutions (such as defense facilities, universities engaged with DoD, or military installations) to advance technologies like artificial intelligence, quantum tech, hypersonics, biotech, and advanced manufacturing. The bill envisions at least 10 hubs within three years, funded through DoD appropriations, with a focus on regional collaboration, workforce development, and strengthening the defense industrial base. Security, export control compliance, and IP management are addressed, and the program would be coordinated with existing DoD and federal innovation initiatives. The act also sets up oversight and assessment mechanisms, requiring annual progress reports and independent evaluations for the first five years, followed by biennial reviews. It would authorize $375 million (fiscal years 2026–2030) with up to $75 million available for grants, and cap the federal share at 50% of hub costs. It includes a waiver authority for small projects to expedite development, and provides a framework to align hub activities with broader defense and intelligence mission priorities while avoiding duplication of existing programs like DARPA, Manufacturing USA, DIU, and NSF’s Regional Innovation Engines.
Key Points
- 1Establishment and designation of regional Defense Technology Hubs, with a competitive process for eligible consortia (universities, defense contractors, small businesses, nonprofits, and local governments) and a goal of at least 10 hubs within three years; hubs must be anchored by a federal defense institution or mission-critical installation.
- 2Clear hub objectives, including accelerating R&D-to-ops for emerging technologies (AI, quantum tech, hypersonics, biotech, advanced manufacturing), fostering public-private partnerships, addressing regional defense tech needs, building workforce pipelines, and strengthening the defense industrial base.
- 3Funding and grants: authorization of $375 million for 2026–2030; up to $75 million available for hub grants; federal funding share capped at 50% of a hub’s annual operating costs; seed funding and project-specific funding for research, prototyping, and technology transition.
- 4Security, compliance, and IP: mandatory cybersecurity, ITAR/EAR compliance, screening to prevent foreign entities of concern, and mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive R&D; DoD, in coordination with defense security agencies, will monitor and enforce compliance; the DoD will issue IP guidelines balancing national security with private-sector incentives.
- 5Administration, oversight, and coordination: program managed by the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering with input from the Defense Innovation Unit; acquisition-regulation waivers for smaller projects (under $10M) to speed development; annual progress reporting; independent evaluations to assess effectiveness, with congressional reporting to Armed Services committees.